Divided powers and composition in integro-differential algebras (Q2627980)

An integro-differential algebra \((R,\partial,\int)\) is a differential algebra \((R,\partial)\) (i.e. an algebra \(R\) together with a linear derivation \(\partial\) satisfying the Leibniz rule \[ \partial(xy) = x\partial(y) + \partial(x) y \] enriched with a primitivation operator \(\int\), the whole structure being required to satisfy obvious identities \textit{and} the so-called hybrid Rota-Baxter identity, which formalises integration by parts. Although they have been mostly used in null characteristics, the fate of integro-differential algebras (like before that of differential algebras) is to be used in positive characteristics where they will have applications to algebraic geometry and to number theory. The authors of the paper under review develop a rather complete formalism allowing for such extensions. This notably includes a canonical uniform structure making \(R\) into a complete Hausdorff space, divided powers (which allow to simulate \(f^n/n!\)) and exponential and logarithmic elements. It is to be expected that this toolbox will be instrumental in generalizing some classical results of differential algebra, like solvability of differential equations by quadratures (Ritt theory of Liouvillian extensions \dots) and even, hopefully, of differential Galois theory.